There are different types of evaluations. Most people are familiar with outcome evaluations, but process evaluations may be invaluable for an organization. Here are the differences and why each is important:
Outcome evaluation: it helps us assess the effectiveness of a program in producing change. So, it answers the question, “Did the program work? Did it have the expected impact on participants?”
Process evaluation: it helps us identify how a program impact was achieved. It documents the process of a program implementation, and helps us answer questions such as, “What strategies or interventions were used to reduce or eliminate the problem? What barriers were encountered during the implementation of the program? What went well? Was the program support adequate?”
Outcome evaluations are valuable because they tell us if the program work, and if the goals and objectives were achieved. Process evaluations are useful because they provide an understanding of how the outcomes were achieved and serve as a guideline for program replication.
Outcome evaluation: it helps us assess the effectiveness of a program in producing change. So, it answers the question, “Did the program work? Did it have the expected impact on participants?”
Process evaluation: it helps us identify how a program impact was achieved. It documents the process of a program implementation, and helps us answer questions such as, “What strategies or interventions were used to reduce or eliminate the problem? What barriers were encountered during the implementation of the program? What went well? Was the program support adequate?”
Outcome evaluations are valuable because they tell us if the program work, and if the goals and objectives were achieved. Process evaluations are useful because they provide an understanding of how the outcomes were achieved and serve as a guideline for program replication.
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